23-Voice_December_2010

23-Voice_December_2010

The College VOICE, award-winning student newspaper of Mercer County Community College in Trenton, New Jersey reports on the state of veterans on campus and on a wind storm that smashed the college's brand new airplanes.

The state of student veterans at MCCC
By Anna Bosted Reporter
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Princeton coffee crawl
December 13, 2010 Volume 42, Issue 4
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A student press serving M ercer County Community College
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Established 1969
Communication problems between the Federal office of Veterans’ Affairs, states’ veterans departments, and college campuses is creating a difficult situation for soldiers reentering civilian life. The GI Bill, originally created to address the work and education needs of veterans returning from World War II, has undergone a series of changes intended to clarify some issues, but which may have complicated others. Eugene Marsh, a Vietnam veteran who graduated from Mercer last May says, “There’s an issue where veterans have to pay out of pocket, I call it upfront money, to pay for tuition and books, then wait for the GI Bill to cover it. That’s an issue for low-income veterans or unemployed veterans who can’t finance it upfront. The hardship financially is when you
have to wait three, six months to find out if you’ve been accepted into the program,” The issue Marsh exposes is a decades-old concern for veterans. For Dawn Whetstone, now working in Mercer County’s Department of Veterans’ Services after her transfer from Mercer to Rider, having to pay up front was only half of the problem. “If paperwork isn’t sent out within a three or four month period, you can’t get your housing allowance or book stipend…I was on financial hold for the fall semester because I had a huge balance while my paperwork sat in processing for months.” Tuition issues compound upon one another if the Office of Veterans Affairs fails to process paperwork in the promised 18-24 day period. Months of lateness lead to veterans having housing and registration issues at college. For veterans this is frustrating, and for Mercer it means complications with accounting and paperwork, creating tension on both ends. Among the everchanging components of the
GI Bill is the introduction of electronic transaction systems between schools and Veterans Affairs. Mercer’s Dean of Veterans Services Paul Scheid said, “Using an electronic transaction system will hopefully ease up the system.” Regardless of the potential ease of an electronic system, Scheid noted that, “There are only four regional processing centers [for Veterans Affairs]. Ours is in Buffalo, NY.” The amount of paperwork handled by these four national centers creates the holdup faced by veterans. But bureaucratic headaches aren’t the only thing affecting Mercer’s veterans. Another serious concern is veterans’ reentry into civilian life and onto college campuses. As returning veterans are sent back into civilian life, the reality of bills, employment and education often conflict with the lingering stresses of combat. For the majority of veterans, the transition isn’t traumatic, but it is seldom easy. “Vets as a group are pretty reticent about talkSee VETS pages 9
COLLEGE VOICE | FILE PHOTO
Wind storm batters MCCC’s aviation fleet
By Jason Pomerantz The College VOICE
According to Dan McGrath, Aviation Dispatcher for Mercer, the Mercer County Flight School found all three of their Cessna 172 airplanes damaged at the Trenton-Mercer Airport on November 17 when a 70+mph wind-shear ripped the planes from the ground. The storm of November 17 began at 4:30 am and ended very quickly. “It was over in two minutes, then took eight hours to clean up,” said Shift Captain Jay Davidson of the TrentonMercer Airport Fire-Rescue Station 34. A recently purchased Cessna Skyhawk SP 172 (retail cost $301,500) was torn apart within seconds from where it was tied down. Planes
were thrown over an eight foot barbed wire fence and landed upside-down, 100 feet away. Nearby, only several hundred feet away, a similar Cessna was left untied yet was completely unaffected. “It gives you a sense of how localized it was,” said Wolcott Blair, General Manager of Ronson Aviation. A total of eight aircraft and the roof of a nearby hangar were blown away by the windshear. Wind-shear is similar to a normal gust of wind, yet radiates outward as it rushes toward the ground. Valerie Servos, Aviation Dispatcher at Mercer County Community College, said it will have an obvious effect on airport operations, causing cancellations and longer waits for students, but they will still get their ratings.
PHOTO | JASON POMERANTZ
Eight aircraft and a hanger were damaged Nov. 17th due to 70+mph winds. Damage is estimated at one million dollars. Jay Davidson of Trenton Mercer Airports Fire-Rescue station 34 stepped away from the overturned aircraft after checking to see if any fuel spilled.
ROADSIDE MEMORIALS:
After a trauma : observing the public display of private grief. PGS. 10 - 11
ROOM FOR DEBATE:
Pot good or pot bad? Head to head debate. PG 17
INDEX:
Campus & Local ............2-3 Profiles ...........................4-5 In Focus ..........................6-7 Sports Extra ...................8-9 Calendar /Holiday .12+13 Just for Fun ............16 Sports ......................20 Opinion....................18-19
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No AA meetings offered at MCCC
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CAMPUS & LOCAL
Sarah Spencer, 24. Spencer interns in the detox unit at Hampton Behavioral Health Center as social worker. “AA and NA meetings offer a solution to people who are suffering with addiction. It is a disease that should never be fought alone. Exposure to and involvement with these fellowships saves lives,” said Spencer Some Mercer students have sought advice from Mercer staff. “I have talked to several students for a long time. I’ve spent many mornings in the parking lot talking to guys, just trying to help,” said Rodney Hargis, 39, an analyst for Mercer’s Virtual College. “There is definitely a need for it, but the anonymity is an issue. If all students are aware of where the meetings are, they can easily find out who is a member and there is a stigma attached to it,” says Hargis. Although Mercer has no group or program, the local community does. “I go to AA meetings regularly, but if they were on campus it would be more convenient, not to mention it would be ‘sweet’ to see other people in my situation,” said Mark Burns, 28, a Communications major at Mercer. Mercer does not op-
By Tim Hester Senior Reporter
According to a study done by the Journal of American College Health, one in three college students could be diagnosed with alcohol and drug abuse, while one in 17 (7%) is dependant on alcohol and drug consumption already. In a given semester, Mercer has up to 13,000 students enrolled in classes, suggesting that approximately 4,300 students attending Mercer could be abusing drugs and alcohol and over 750 may be dependant on drugs or alcohol. Although it once did, Mercer no longer offers any meetings of groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous for students. “NA is what gave me my life back, it’s the only reason I’m in school at all, I want every addict find their way to the fellowship,” said Susan Morris, 20, a second-year Liberal Arts major. Note: Morris is not her real name; all members of NA or AA quoted in this article have been given pseudonyms to comply with the programs’ policy that members stay anonymous in the media. “I think there are stu-
How useful is website for rating professors?
By Susan Johnson Reporter
dents at Mercer who have this disease and don’t know where to go or are just too scared to look; maybe a meeting here would bring them in,” said Morris In the past Mercer had AA meetings which were started by George Colnaghi, a retired Psychology professor. However, a meeting has not taken place since Colnaghi retired in 2006. In a survey taken on campus, seventy-five percent of students said that a twelve-step meeting would be very helpful or helpful on campus. Twenty percent were neutral, and five percent thought a meeting would be very unhelpful. Of the students surveyed eight percent of them were members of either AA or NA, which is slightly higher than the seven percent of students dependant on substances recorded by the Journal of American College Health. AA and NA are designed to help give drug addicts and alcoholics a new way of life. “The most important thing [for an alcoholic or addict] is to go to a twelve-step group, get a sponsor, and begin to understand the disease. It’s mental and physical,” said University of Pennsylvania graduate student
COLLEGE VOICE | FILE PHOTO
pose these group in any way, “We haven’t had anyone try to organize a meeting but they should,” said Dr. Valerie Brooks-Klein, senior counselor at Mercer. Mark Burns said, “I would love to start one myself, but I work and go to school, I just don’t have the time, but I hope somebody does.” Other schools in New Jersey such as Rutgers Univer-
sity, Princeton University and Montclair State University have student-run 12-step meetings, including Al-Anon and NarAnon which are for people who have loved ones struggling with addiction. “The meetings on campus are a great way for us to band together and see that we’re not alone in a heavy party environment,” said Jeff Bell, 21, an education major at Rutgers University.
After weeks of juggling classes around, Joe Perilli’s schedule is finally set and his last semester here at Mercer looks like a dream. He’ll get to sleep in three times a week, have two hectic days and only one night class. Life is good. Unfortunately, there is one surprise: according to ratemyprofessors.com one of Perilli’s professors is a tough grader, assigns a lot of homework and is ugly. Learning this, Perilli wonders if he can handle such a professor, especially for his toughest class. That dream schedule may have to be on hold. Perilli talks with other people on campus to get their opinion of the professor in questions and gets mixed reviews. He decides to keep the dream schedule, but his friend, who had signed up for the same class, reconsiders and decides that an ugly professor who gives a lot of homework is okay, but add in the tough grading and it’s too much to contemplate. Instead, he opts for a good looking, laid back professor who lets him out early every week.
For the last ten years, students across the country have had the option of checking out their professors on ratemyprofessors.com. The website states they are the largest listing of collegiate professor ratings, with millions of students using the site each year in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The question is, how much weight do they give to the website, which is owned and operated by mtvU, MTV’s 24 hour network dedicated to college students (full disclosure, The College VOICE’s website is also hosted by mtvU’s College Publisher network). There are five categories on which professors are rated– Overall Quality, Helpfulness, Clarity, Easiness, and Hotness. The website states that it is built “…for college students, by college students.. and does what students have been doing forever – checking in with each other…” Kelly Cammiso, a Freshman in the Nursing Program at Mercer says “I
like it. I think it’s useful and pretty accurate. I check it if I want to see what the professor is going to be like, but it doesn’t determine if I pick the class, or the professor, or not.” Francisco Macario, a second year student in the Criminal Justice program, has a different opinion. Macario said he visited the website once but does not rely on it. “The comments about the professor were negative, but I stuck with the class because I didn’t want to lose my money. By the end of class, I realized she wasn’t as bad as the website described,” Macario said. In a recent VOICE survey of 20 Mercer students who use ratemyprofessors. com, 16 said that negative comments steer them away from choosing a professor and 18 said that positive comments steer them towards choosing a professor. Most of the students have not rated a professor on the website and they also check with their friends before
choosing a professor. On the comments section of the survey, students suggested the following categories be added to the website : professor’s workload; how many students dropped a class; how the teacher presents material; and the grade of the student who is commenting. Two students requested that the “hot or not” chili pepper rating be dropped. (The chili pepper rating is given to those considered by reviewers to be “good looking” professors). Guidelines are given on the site asking that reviewers give honest, objective, constructive and helpful comments which reflect the professor’s teaching and communication skills. Further, the website states that inappropriate comments will be removed, as will multiple ratings from the same IP address, as only one comment per person per course is preferred. Mercer professors hold varying opinions about the usefulness of the ratemyprofessors.com site. Dr. Renee Walker, Professor of Social Sciences, says she does check the website if a student refers to it, especially if the student is stressed, so that she can understand them. “I’m from the era of the
60’s; freedom of the press is good and it is important for the students to be able to express themselves,” said Walker. She said she does realize, however, that comments are subject to bias and influence and may not carry the highest degree of reliability. Steven Voorhees, Assistant Professor of TV and Director of Cable Programming, says he has heard of the website, but he knows little about it and has never checked his own ratings. “The evaluations you get from your class – that’s what you take seriously. On the computer – how do you know who put [the evaluations] there?” According to one Mercer professor who asked to remain anonymous, “It’s tempting to read your reviews on ratemyprofessors, you hope you’ll find nice comments there, but usually only two kinds of students ever post there - the ones who loved you and the ones who hated you. A lot of my reviews call me a ‘hardass’ and a ‘hard grader.’ I guess I could be offended, but instead I hope those reviews will drive the slackers away. In that sense, the site may be useful after all.”
voice 3 Rally to Restore Sanity draws diverse crowd
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the college
Comedians’ efforts appear to have little effect on mid-term elections
By Laura Pollack Reporter
Catherine Makoski, 18, a college student from Bethlehem PA, heard about the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear being held by comedians Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert in Washington D.C. “I was really excited to be voting for the first time and I wanted to get involved in the political scene,” she said. On October 30, she headed down to D.C. The rally was in response to conservative pundit Glenn Beck’s Restore Honor rally that was held on August 28, but Stewart and Colbert’s rally was aimed at a moderate or left leaning demographic. According to the rally’s website, they were “looking for the people who think shouting is annoying, counterproductive, and terrible for your throat; who feel that the loudest voices shouldn’t be the only ones that get heard; and who believe that the only time it’s appropriate to draw a Hitler mustache on someone is when that person is actually Hitler.” Over 215,000 people, who felt their opinions were getting overlooked by the far right and far left alike, showed up on the national mall to finally express their moderate opinions that they feel the media overlooks. Those people were of all different ages and races. Parents brought their small children and stood next to senior citizens and teenagers as they watched a rally filled with both antics and sincere speeches. Makoski noticed the diverse audience. “I think there were people from all ages there, I saw babies and old ladies,” she
PHOTO | LAURA POLLACK
Attendees with posters during the Rally for Sanity on October 30, 2010 in Washington DC. said. Many people carried signs that helped express their desire to all get along or their fed up attitude toward the news media. One sign read, “America. Love it, or let’s discuss how to improve it” while another one read “You know times are desperate when this many people get their news from Comedy Central.” The actual rally featured sincere, musical, and comedic performances from a wide variety of people. The Roots were the opening band, and 4Troops sang the national anthem. Ozzy Osborne and Sheryl Crow performed for the crowed, and Sam Waterson read a humorous poem written by Stephen Colbert. Stephen Colbert, who plays a self-centered faux conservative political pundit, brought the comedy aspect to the rally. He entered the stage through a Chilean-mine-rescue capsule dressed in a red, white, and blue bodysuit. Jon Stewart was more serious when he gave a twelve minute speech at the end of the rally. He explained how the media is no longer helping America solve problems, and how Americans need to start working together. “The country’s 24-hour political pundit perpetual panic conflictinator did not cause our problems but its existence makes solving them that much harder,” Stewart said. He continued, “…Democrats, Republicans, liberals or conservatives. Americans live their lives more as people that are just a little bit late for something they have to do—often something that they do not want to do—but they do it--impossible things every day that are only made possible by the little reasonable compromises that we all make.” Mercer student Conner Byrne, who attended the rally, said, “Stewart made a really good point. [The rally] brought together a lot of people who feel the same way.” As the rally was wrapping up, people were very pleased with what they saw. “Jon Stewart always does seem so rational,” said Naia Polyer, a Philadelphia college student, “I thought a gathering of people who weren’t
going to yell and scream would never happen, but it did.” Jen Miller, a resident of Virginia, called the rally “a spectacle.” However, the question that lingered among both rally goers and the news media alike was whether or not the rally would have a political impact. It seems that the rally did not have a direct impact on the November midterm elections. The results of the elections showed more people were returning to the GOP. The Republicans were able to take control of the house with 242 seats compared to the democrats 192 seats, but only gained six seats in the senate leaving the Democrats with the majority. Obama was recently interviewed by Jon Stewart, and he responded to people questioning his first two years in office, and the growing anti-incumbent movement. “When we promised during the campaign, ‘Change you can believe in,’ it wasn’t ‘Change you can believe in in 18 months.’” The President explained, “It was ‘Change you can believe in, but you know what, we’re gonna have to work for it.’” Even if the rally does not have a serious impact on politics, it certainly brought the comedic aspect of both Stewart and Colbert’s shows to the National Mall. Many people carried less serious signs that reflected the comedy aspect of the rally. One sign read, “Am I too late for the Glenn Beck rally?” while another one ironically said “I hate crowds.” One sign that read “It’s a sad day when our politicians are comical, and I have to take our comedians seriously” seemed to perfectly sum up the attitude of the rally.
LGBTF sponsors “It gets better” week 11/30-12/4
Need for support of at-risk and LGBT youth is made evident by poster vandalism
By Kelly Smith The College Voice
The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Friends Club hosted a series of lectures on suicide prevention and LGBTF services at 12 noon each day the week of November 29. The event was organized by LGBTF members in response to the suicide of Tyler Clementi, as well as a series of YouTube videos titled “It Gets Better.” In the videos, LGBT people from around the world discuss how they overcame wanting to commit suicide, and how they realize now that life does, in fact, get better. Anthony McBride, copresident of LGBTF said, “Rather than mourn or memorialize people committing suicide we wanted to take action.” With the help of LGBTF Advisor Alex DeFazio and Mer-
cer counselor Valerie BrooksKlein, LGBFT members organized the “It Gets Better Week” . The LGBTF wanted to ensure that non-LGBT students could be aware of what they could do for either themselves or friends in cases of possible suicide attempts. “We were telling people - if you have a friend, they may not know the resources but because you came today you could tell them,” said McBride. Thursday’s lecture entitled “Safe Schools Step Up” was facilitated by speaker Carol Watchler, Co-Chair of the Central NJ Chapter of The Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network, also known as GLSEN. GLSEN’s 2009 National School Climate Survey revealed that “9 out of 10 LGBT students experience harassment in school, 4 in 10 report physi-
cal harassment, and 72% report frequently or often hearing anti-gay comments.” Watchler discussed different types of events that LGBTF members could organize to bring awareness, such as Ally Week which focuses on not using offensive gay terminology. This would involve students signing a contract to agree not to use phrases such as “That’s so gay” and to replace the word “gay” with more appropriate terms that are not offensive to any group. “When people use phrases like that, it is like a bit of poison being put into the air and they think it won’t pollute the air, but with so many little bits it makes it hard to breath,” said Watchler. Regardless of the event’s openness and importance to all students, non-LGBT
A poster for “It Gets Better” week that has been vandalized with the words “LOL FAGS.” “This isn’t the first time included, one of the posters the LGBTF has seen its posters hung in the SC building bedefaced. ...For me, a comment came vandalized when somelike “lol fags” represents hatred one wrote “LOL FAGS”next to at worst, and a sort of cavalier Tuesday’s event entitled “Diignorance at best. Neither is versity at Mercer: Challenges acceptable in a community of and Goals.” It was discovered higher learning,” said DeFazio. by LGBTF adivsor DeFazio.
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PROFILES Holocaust survivor tells of harrowing experiences
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By Tim Hester Senior Reporter
For many people, a nightmare is an inconvenience in their sleep - sometimes vivid and frightening, but always followed by the relief of awakening. “I also had a nightmare, but mine lasted 1,388 days. They took away our names and gave us numbers. Mine was B2858,” said Sol Lurie, 80, a holocaust survivor. This number was tattooed on Lurie’s arm during his captivity at the AuschwitzBirkenau concentration camp. He was a prisoner in five other camps including Buchenwald, from which he was finally liberated on his fifteenth birthday in April of 1945. Lurie emerged with a message. “People should stand up to bullies and love each other, that’s my message. Help one another, that’s my message!” said Lurie. Lurie told his story to a Holocaust and Genocide class at Mercer on November 16. Lurie witnessed the Nazi atrocities first hand. In June of 1941, he found himself in a hole in the ground in his family’s stables in Kovno, Lithuania, hiding with his cousin and her sevenmonth old baby. “When we were discovered [by the Nazis], the baby began to cry, and a German soldier took the baby, threw it up in the air, and caught it on his bayonet,” said Lurie. Lurie mimicked the soldier waving the baby around like he was waving a flag, as if it were a fresh memory. Students in the audience were shocked. “It made me want to cry, I teared up a bit. I know if my family were burned
PHOTO | JASON POMERANTZ
Following his presentation as a Distinguished Lecturer, Sol Lurie shows Corey Foster, 23, the tattoo given to him at AuschwitzBirkenau by the Nazis during the holocaust. to death, I would be pissed for life. So his outlook is amazing,” said Caylin Moore, 19, secondyear psychology student. “If I hated all the Germans for what they did to me, then I would be just like the Nazis because they hated all the Jews,” said Lurie. He also took issue with something else entirely. “The biggest enemy is religion. They teach you ‘my religion is better than yours.’ We are all human beings. My religion is I’m a good human being and I help people.” said Lurie Professor Joanne Maisto, a senior adjunct professor at Mercer, invited Lurie to speak. “I met him four years ago. I was a docent for an Anne Frank exhibit in Princeton, and he came to speak,” said Maisto, “He motivated me to think that what I was studying was very important and i needed to let people know.” Lurie has come to speak for Professor Maisto’s classes four times, but it wasn’t until seven years ago that Lurie would even discuss what happened to him with his own family. “I couldn’t talk about my experience because it was too hard to talk about hell, but my granddaughter begged me to speak to her high school class.” said Lurie. “Now when I get a chance to speak, I do [it] to tell people about the hatred. Now you can’t get me to shut up,” said Lurie. “When I speak, I don’t take a penny. I go to teach love and not hate, and when I get the letters [from students], I know what I get in return,” said Lurie. The effect he has on students is evident in their reactions. “I had guys, you know, tough guys? With tears in their eyes. And they were the kids who couldn’t be bothered to come to class. It is incredible,” said Maisto. “I feel bad - his people were brutalized and he’s all about love and not hating,” said Moore. Since coming to America in 1946, Lurie joined the US Army and served in Germany during the Korean war as a translator. “I am the proudest American you’ll ever meet. I will do anything for this country,” said Lurie, “It’s up to us to do something so that the future isn’t a mystery but a beautiful place for everyone. I want to see love.”
PROFILE: Distinguished Lecturer Jeff Hoagland gets us back to nature
By Kelly Smith The College VOICE
The presentation began with the sounds of tree frogs playing over the speakers and slides that depicted nature from sources as varied as influential naturalist Rachel Carson to a poem written by 12 year old boy. Self-described “nature nerd” Jeff Hoagland was the guest speaker at Mercer’s Distinguished Lecture Series on Tuesday, November 16. Hoagland is the Education Director of the Stony Brook Millstone Watershed Association and Director of Building Environmental Education Solutions. As a result of his years of work, Hoagland received the National Medal of Conservation in 1987, the Elizabeth Abernathy Hull Award in 1997, and the Patricia Kane Lifetime Achievement Award. Hoagland discussed the “sense of wonder” or awe that experiencing nature can
provide and the benefits of this, especially for children. Hoagland posited that the reason children and adults have started to disconnect from nature is because of parental fear, or stranger danger, or a fear of liability. In Hoagland’s earliest memories, he explored his own back yard without fear and while basking in the freedom. His parents’ willingness to allow him to explore touched on his second point, that children not only need to have a sense of wonder but also need an adult to facilitate the exploration. The author Richard Louv came up with the phrase “nature deficit disorder” in his 2005 book Last Child in the Woods, in which he argued that children suffer developmentally from the lack of connection to nature and its experiences. Hoagland inspired much audience feedback when he asked the question, “When was your earliest memory of na-
ture?” Many students recounted memories of when nature had awed them. First-year student Cheryl Benson told a story of her sighting of a bear. Hoagland’s earliest memory was seeing just a simple mushroom in his yard. Hoagland had an epiphany in college that made him realize that he had to use his passion for nature in a career. He now works to incorporate education into nature and nature into education. Professor Laura Blinderman, Associate Professor of Biology, had heard Hoagland speak 20 years ago and remembered his philosophy. She invited Hoagland to speak at Mercer. The Stony Brook Millstone Watershed Association and nature center offers about 400 educational programs each year, and is located at 31 Titus Mill Road in Hopewell, NJ.
Education Director of Stony Brook Millstone Watershead Association Jeff Hoagland after his Distinguished Lecture.
PHOTO | JASON POMERANTZ
By Jason Pomerantz Senior Reporter
the college
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Aviation Professor Blasenstein retires after 26 years
Joseph Blasenstein, also known as Mr. B, was Chief Pilot, Professor, Coordinator of the Aviation Technology Program, and was an inspiration to countless students at Mercer for 26 years. On Friday November 19, Mr. B retired after 47 years of teaching. Blasentein plans to spend time with family, continue contributing to aviation through a nonprofit organization, and will continue flying. Through Blasenstein’s leadership in coordinating the Aviation program, there are currently Mercer graduates circling the globe at 515 miles per hour flying a 30 million dollar piece of technology. “Mr. B has a legacy. He sends pilots around the world. They start here and go everywhere,” said First Officer Jeff Tramontano, who started at Mercer on his way to becoming a professional pilot, then finished his studies at Embry Riddle McGuire and now flies Embreaer jets. Blasenstein shared a common vision with Jaqueline Sanders, who retired after 18 years as Dean of Business at Mercer and is currently an educational consultant for the National Business Aviaiton Association. Blasenstein and Sanders represented Mercer, the first community college in the country with an accredited aviation program, in many industry related organizations such as the University Aviation Association.
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PHOTO | JASON POMERANTZ
From left to right: Joseph Blasenstein and Dr. Jaqueline Sanders with Judy Galadya, Aviation program graduate, 2009. Galadya is currently a flight instructor at Mercer. They they instituted changes necessary to keep the Mercer program current with industry requirements in the aviation industry. On one occasion, an aviation conference was scheduled at Beaver College, now known as Arcadia University. “Do you want to go? I’ll fly,” Blasenstein asked Sanders. It was a sunny day with clear skies, and Sanders accepted. Whiteknuckled at first, Sanders gradually relaxed as the Cessna cruised thousands of feet above the earth. The relaxation abruptly ended halfway into the flight when they lost radio communications. “Whether it was good, bad or indifferent, Joe would never hide the truth,” said Sanders, “Joe didn’t even appear worried.” Blasenstein was prepared for this situation and assured Sanders there was no reason to worry before making an emergency landing at the nearest airport. “Joe was a very focused person with a driven personality, and he rose to the occasion,” said Sanders. “Joe kept coming up with ideas - let’s get planes, let’s fly out of Trenton, we need a building,” Sanders said of Blasensteins desire to improve the aviation program. Before the purchase of ten airplanes in 1995 through Attorney Eric Perkins , former Vice President of Administration and current faculty coordinator of the paralegal program at Mercer, the program changed airport locations several times between Robinsville and Princeton Airport, then moving to Ronson Aviation at Trenton-Mercer Airport and flying in rented aircraft
throughout this time. Trenton-Mercer airport’s location and services available made it an ideal place to conduct operations. In 1996 it became the official home of Mercer Aviation through the purchase of a building for dispatchers, instructors and students to learn and manage airport operations, and it is known today as the MCCC Pilot Training Center. Blasenstein advocated for a program that could send students directly into a career after receiving a degree that is recognized internationally. Blasenstein said, “Mercer’s aviation program gives students an opportunity to grow not only professionally, but personally. The one thing that stops a person is the person. If you decide you want something here at the college, we will make every effort to help. We stand on our heads for our kids.” “One of the most difficult problems to overcome was learning to be myself in a classroom,” said Blasenstein. Being himself allowed for a more compassionate approach to teaching, which resulted in “Laughing and having the kids enjoy class. Not feeling as if it was some sort of burdensome experience but an enlightening one,” said Blasentein. Sanders said one of Joe’s favorite expressions was, “A door never closes that a window doesn’t open, and I’m sure that’s what he’s looking at right now. He’s looking for that window to be open.”
PROFILE: Vinh Le exemplifies international ambition at MCCC
By Sarina Prior Senior Reporter
Many students attend college far from home. Mercer student Vinh Le is a very long way from his home in Vietnam. At a school like Mercer at which 92 percent of students are from New Jersey and even 78 percent are from within Mercer County itself, Le stands out just by being an international student. But that is not the only reason Le stands out. In his native Vietnam, Le had a job in information technology. He had studied computers and had a Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certificate. But he didn’t like his job and wasn’t happy. On the advice of relatives, he decided to come to the U.S. to go to college. He left behind his parents, two older siblings and a girlfriend to come to New Jersey to attend college while living with his aunt and her family. His aunt, uncle and cousin live in Mercer County, which is how Le ended up at Mercer. Le arrived in the United States in June of 2008 and spent that first fall semester in the ESL program at Rutgers
learning English. In January of out after class one day,” Mihok 2009 he started taking classes at said, “He helped me out a lot Mercer as a Business major. with the class. He’s gone out of Communications Pro- his way to come early before fessor Kathi Paluscio had Le in class to help me prepare for an her Public Speaking class and exam.” said, “He’s amazing - the qual- In addition to academity of his work is so high that, as ics, Le is also involved with the a teacher, I felt like I couldn’t Future Business Leaders of challenge him enough.” America (FBLA) club chapter Le has a high regard for at Mercer and the Global Trade Mercer and for his professors and Finance Club, Phi Theta here, saying that, unlike the Kappa (PTK), and the Internateachers in Vietnam, they are tional Students Organization extremely accessible by email (ISO). Le is currently the Treaand office hours. “I feel like surer of the FBLA. they are friends, not professors,” Chris Soprych, a secLe says. ond-year Business and Finance “In Vietnam, you can- major and the President of not talk to your professors like the FBLA club, said, “Vinh is that. We are afraid of asking thoughtful; he thinks before he questions – it’s our culture. speaks.” Here you can talk about your Soprych calls Le reliideas but in Vietnam you just able, dependable, and very come and listen to the professor conscientious. Soporych says PHOTO | CJ HARKER [lecture],” Le said. he is expecting big things of Le International student Vinh Le of Vietnam. Ashley Mihok, a sec- in representing Mercer in the ond-year Business major who regional, state, and perhaps nawill be graduating in December, tional FBLA competitions. Le plans to continue on use in business there. was in a statistics class with Le. Le will graduate with at a four-year school to get a B.A. Meanwhile, Le’s girl“Vinh is a very genuine and sin- an A.S. in December, just two in Finance, at either Rutgers, friend of now five years is still cere person,” said Mihok. She years after he entered Mercer. Drexel, or NYU. Eventually Le waiting for him back in Vietdescribed how Le noticed that (Only 9 percent of Mercer stuhopes to get an MBA. Accord- nam. Le says that they are in she was having trouble in the dents graduate within two years ing to Le, American education contact by email and internet. statistics class and offered to tu- with an associates degree.) And, and degrees are highly respect- “We talk and chat online everytor her. depending on this semester’s ed in Vietnam. He plans return day,” Le said, “I have to; we need “I didn’t have to ask grades, Le may graduate with a to Vietnam when he is finished to. It’s the only way.” him. Vinh actually sought me available perfect 4.0 grade point average. Local delivery - including to Mercer campus! with his education, and put it to
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Professors’ work Following an assault at Seton Hall, showcased in new a look at our own safety concerns Art Gallery exhibit
By Katharine Bovoso Reporter
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IN FOCUS
According to reports in the Star Ledger on Tuesday, November 16, a female student at Seton Hall University was sexually assaulted. While walking to her dormitory around 11p.m., she was over-powered by a man and forced into a nearby vacant parking lot where she was then attacked. When the student reported her attack to security, the South Orange Police Department was immediately contacted. An alert was then issued to the Seton Hall campus community. According to the article “Seton Hall takes steps to assure student safety after campus sexual assault” by Steven Hockstein from the November 18 edition of the Star Ledger, vice president of student affairs at Seton Hall University, Laura A. Wankel, is quoted having said, “While nothing can absolutely guarantee the prevention of such random acts of violence, Seton Hall has taken — and will continue to take — the necessary steps to provide the safest possible campus environment.” Since the attack, the university has expanded its use of security cameras and continues to work with the South Orange Police Department. Seton Hall also uses other services to keep their students safe such as blue-light emergency phones, 24- hour security escort service, CASE Van Service for shuttle rides within South Orange that run from 5 a.m. to 2 a.m., and a free Rape Aggression Defense Course that
Student observes sculpture at Mercer art gallery’s latest exhibition of faculty work. dents are coming into the GalBy Anna Bosted lery. In a on-campus survey, Reporter one third of respondents said The Mercer Arts Department they visited the Gallery. All faculty has taken their teaching of those who visited the Galout of the classroom and into lery said their visits were either the gallery. The current show at prompted by curiosity, friends Mercer’s Gallery, located on the encouraging them to visit, or second floor of the Communi- a general interest in art. Notacations building, is comprised bly, none of those surveyed said entirely of works produced by their visit was a mandatory part Arts faculty members. of class, demonstrating the Gal The display is an op- lery’s success in reaching out to portunity to showcase the tal- students beyond the classroom. ent of the faculty as well as to Though seven of the 30 demonstrate to students that respondents reported having Mercer professors are actively no knowledge of the Gallery, practicing what they’re teach- many were eager to learn more. ing, serving not just as instruc- One anonymous responder tors but also as artists. asked for directions to the Gal On opening night, the lery so that he could visit later gallery was filled with profes- that day. sors, students and community Interest in the Gallery members. Professors discussed and in the faculty art show was different pieces with colleagues not limited to students. “One and viewers. The murmur of woman came in, and she teachconversations was background es ESL here, who was asking to the beautiful hodgepodge of about every piece and its artworks, ranging from intention- ist, and what class they taught. ally imperfect hand thrown Now I think she’s signing up bowls to incredibly realistic to take an art class here.” said paintings. Shultz. The range of art pro- The combination of duced by the faculty was in- student interest and faculty credible, and it was wonderful support has helped to cultivatto see such different kinds of ed this active, and constantly art displayed together, however developing, artist community unconventional it might be. on campus. The faculty show “A lot of students come will run until December 22, so in, and a lot of faculty too,” said there is still time to visit the Galfirst semester student and gal- lery and see just how much the lery volunteer Judy Schultz. Mercer faculty has to offer its Students were curious to see students and the community. the work of their professors, “You don’t have to be and some night classes came as an artist,” said Schultz, “You regroups to view the show. ally can just simply appreciate In fact, quite a few stu- it.”
PHOTO | JASON POMERANTZ
is given on campus. In light of these events, students at Mercer County Community College were asked for their opinions on the security they receive on campus. According to a survey of 30 Mercer students, 20 percent think security is doing enough to keep the college campus safe. Twenty-four out of the 30 students surveyed did not think security is doing enough to keep the campus safe, yet all 30 reported feeling safe while on the MCCC campus. Ryan Renzi, a third semester architect major at Mercer County Community College stated, “I don’t feel like there is a high level on danger [on the campus].” When asked if there is anything on campus that makes him feel uneasy, Sean Christiansen, a third semester music major at Mercer paused and started to reflect on a skunk he once came across on campus. He said, “It seems like there is always a random animal on campus.” Although the students feel safe and most of the students surveyed could not name the services that Mercer security provides, several commented on instances when they had seen campus security guards sleeping in their trucks or had called the security extension and received no response. One of the services Mercer security does provide is a pamphlet of safety tips which can help prevent an attack similar of that which occurred at Seton Hall University. According to these tips, students are
advised to stay alert to their surroundings and avoid isolation, walk with others after dark and stay on the college walkways. Director of campus Security, Bryon Marshall, also advises students to keep off their cell phones when walking to parking lots at night, but to keep it in hand and ready if needed in an emergency. He also says for students to use their car panic alarms to attract attention if involved in an attack or assault. The tips also tell students to be aware of the emergency phones inside the buildings and outside along the walkways, these phones allow security to “pinpoint” a student’s location in the case of an emergency. These phones are a similar method to those used at Seton Hall. Also similar to the university, security will escort students to the parking areas after dark as well. Marshall notes that students are now allowed to park in the faculty and staff lots during evening hours. This is to keep students closer to the school and in a safer more monitored zone. He also says that the monitoring of the parking lots has also been increased and there are more patrols on campus from the West Windsor Plainsboro Police Department and the Trenton Police Department. The West Windsor Campus’s security office is also open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The James Kerney Campus’s security office is open from seven in the morning to 11 at night, except on Sundays.
For MCCC’s returning vets, very little peace of mind While veterans are
By Anna Bosted Reporter
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ing about their combat experiences. Talking about it means reliving it, which is something they don’t want to do voluntarily,” said Scheid. Veterans are at two to four times the risk of committing suicide compared to any other demographic, according to data complied by CBS News in 2007. While there are state and federal reentry programs in place, Mercer itself is struggling to find ways to help veterans who may need counseling services. “Mercer vets have been in Iraq and come home, have come into my office and closed the door and said, ‘I’ve PTSD, I’m having flashbacks.’” said Schied, “We send them to the Trenton Vets Center or to resident psychologist Dr. Valerie Brooks-Klien. We’ve tried to have some events here...and tried to get a Veterans club going. The turnout has been, well, underwhelming.”
known to suffer high rates of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), fear of filling a stereotype or attracting added, potentially negative attention, may prevent student veterans from openly discussing these issues. “There was an incident once, years ago, where a vet had an episode of PTSD in the classroom. The issue wasn’t huge, but he was so worried that he’d get thrown out of school. That not what we’re here to do, though,” said Schied. Helping civilians to understand the military as well as offering veterans more easily accessible resources would appear to be what is needed to ease reentry into college life for veterans “In order to achieve the mission of returning veterans, there needs to be a program to address veterans’ ‘whole-ness.’ Addressing concerns about everything. Employment, relationships, education, the stigma of PTSD. There needs to be an inclusive program where veterans can go to at least get help and get pointed in the right direction,” said Marsh.
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In his first budget address on March 16, 2010, Governor Christie said that New Jersey “does not need its own television network.” The Christie budget, passed in June, eliminated funding for the New Jersey Public Broadcasting Network (NJN) as of January 1, 2011. With that, the governor set in motion a scramble to find a new owner for the financially battered NJN. NJN was created in 1968 when New Jersey passed legislation enabling the creation of New Jersey Public Broadcasting Authority, the governing body for the network. The body’s mandate was to establish, own, and operate noncommercial educational television and radio stations. At the time, the state and its political leaders, led by then Governor Richard Hughes, felt that New Jersey was being ignored by the commercial media in New York and Philadelphia. NJN’s first live broadcast was in 1971. Since then, NJN has grown to include five television channels (part of the PBS network) and seven radio frequencies (part of the NPR GTH Mercer County 9-27:Transfer Ad network). Its television programs
By Pierce Willans Reporter
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Christie cuts funds for NJN leaving it tounknown fate
dropped from $8.9 million in 1990, to $4 million in 2010. For fiscal year 2011, beginning July 1, 2010, that figure had dropped to $1.89 million. It is expected that NJN will have completely run out of funds by January 1, 2011. Exacerbating the problem was the federally mandated conversion from analog to digital technology. The entire process cost the network $20 million dollars, a financially crippling blow. The Task Force also found that fundraising efforts by the Foundation for New Jersey Public Broadcasting have been disappointing and hampered by high administrative, lobbying, and compensation costs, resulting in a net-loss in revenue due these problems. Another difficulty faced by the network has been a steady decline in viewership of NJN’s television programming. The report noted that the network’s radio signals are weak and its internet presence almost non-existent, and therefore unlikely to offset its loss in television viewership. The Task Force ultimately agreed with the governor that the State of New Jersey should not be in the business of owning and operating a media outlet, but outlined obstacles to the network’s quick transfer to another operator.
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have garnered wide acclaim and have received numerous Regional Emmy Awards. Supporters view the network as a vital source of locally produced and New Jersey oriented programming, sandwiched between two large media markets, New York and Philadelphia. In his March 16 address to the legislature Christie said, “NJN will operate independently and New Jersey will no longer be in the public television business as of January 2011,” by which time NJN must be independent. Following the address, the legislature created a bipartisan commission called the NJ Legislative Task Force on Public Broadcasting. The panel’s stated goal was to “study and 9/13/10 9:58 AM Page 1 evaluate, and develop recommendations relating to a pro-
posal to transfer the assets…of the New Jersey Public Broadcasting Authority…to an independent, not-for-profit organization.” On October 15, 2010, the Task Force published its findings. According to the Task Force’s report, it agreed with the governor’s assessment that the network should become independent. However, the report expressed concerns over possible difficulties that might prevent the network from reaching independence by the January 1 deadline. Among its concerns were that past difficulties have left NJN finances in dire straits. Direct state funding to the network had dropped dramatically in recent years. According to the Task Force’s report, direct appropriations from the state had
The enabling legislation did not empower the Authority to negotiate the sale of the radio and television assets to another entity. Therefore, the report calls for legislative action to create such an entity or amend the Authority’s powers. The report also argues that bureaucratic difficulties of a transfer would prove too expensive for the network and would take it beyond its January 1, 2011 loss of funding deadline. It also found that much of the network’s equipment was outdated and would take time and money to modernize. Published reports of parties interested in acquiring NJN include Richard Stockton College (where NJN’s South Jersey Bureau is already located), Montclair State University (which has a program of study in broadcasting), and New York’s public television network WNET. On November 16, 130 state employees who work at NJN received layoff notices to be effective Jan 1, 2011. If NJN goes dark on Jan 1, they have one year before the FCC can terminate their licenses and reclaim the broadcasting frequencies assigned to them. Numerous attempts to contact NJN and management seeking comment were unsuccessful.
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SPORTS OP: Men’s hoops team analysis
By Val Dagrain Reporter
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Sports EXTRA
he Viking men’s basketball season tipped off on November, 6 with a 3 point loss to CCRI followed by a win the next day versus a Suffolk, NY team, in a game controlled by defense and Mercer’s ability to hit their free throws (29-36 percent). Since then the team has established a record of 4-5. Although Mercer is a bit better team than their record shows, they’re right where they need to be. Mercer plays a tough, man-to-man help defense where the objective is to wear wear down or overwhelm the opponent and to get in between the passing lanes for steals leading to easy lay ups. It is an effective style of defense when applied correctly, but in order for a team to achieve success with this defensive style you need a line-up with five athletic, energetic, intelligent, communicative and tenacious athletes; one weak link and it can backfire on you with simple and basic play calling. Head Coach Howard Levy knows this and defi-
T
nitely has the men working in practice, trying to get them to grow into his tough nose-to-nose defense and complex offense that he brought over with him from Princeton University where he used to coach. The Princeton offence looks like a headache, but it’s basically a non-stop, no rest offense based around back screens, cutting and going opposite the man in front of you. The objective of the offense is to wear down the defense and use the entire shot clock. “No one wants to play defense for 35 seconds,” said Coach Levy in an interview with the Voice. He added, “My job is to make them do what they don’t want to do, and make them play our game.” Talent-wise Mercer is in good shape. They have team captain and returning forward Gary Carthan (#24). They have a kid from Philly recruited by coach Levy in Rodney Walters (#23) who I’ve heard being compared to “Michael Jordan” by his teammates. He does show the uncanny ability to get to the rim. Having
Forward Amir Bell, #42 shoots over Gloucester guard, sophomore Kevin Booth, #10. an intelligent and athletic front court, bringing energetic and aggressive players like Brandin Yougblood off the bench to give the starters a rest, is a good strategy. Generally speaking, even though the Mercer men have a sub .500 record, they are looking fairly good. They did, in their most recent game (Tuesday Nov. 23) beat Lackawanna, a local team and a division rival by 14 points, so it is safe to say that another division title is acheivable. Also, the Princeton offense is a bit more complex of an offense then most teams run at this level of basketball, and the price you pay for that is that it takes the team time to learn and understand it inside and out. The Mercer team has dropped a few games early, yes, but once these plays start sticking and the men start playing with confidence and intelligence, they’re going to be hard to beat. The men have 24 games remaining in their schedule, not including the post-season, and from
PHOTO | Jason pomerantz
looking at their schedule, 13 of those games are definitely winable. However, I’m going out on a limb and saying that they go at least 18-6 the rest of the regular season. Then we’ll be watching and waiting to see what happens in the post season.
Elmira Jackals take down the Trenton Devils
By Barbara Stoffels Reporter
The Trenton Devils home is an arena rink of cold grey concrete, studded with lights and advertising signs, smoothed by ice conditioning zamboni and scented with lingering hints of popcorn and beer. For the November 17 game against the Elmira Jackals, the Trenton Devils had just come off a hard fought on-theroad win in Reading, PA the night before. First string goalie Dave Caruso was promoted upstream to the NJ Devils, previous alternate goalie Jeremy Akeson was scratched, and emergency goalie Anthony Felice was signed just three days earlier. Although Felice suited up, Jeff Lerg, with more team experience, got the job and played two nights straight. Lerg, incidentally, is short for a goalie; at 5’8” he has to scramble more than taller players. Elmira’s larger players proved to be a challenge for Trenton’s defense. Elmira’s Andrew Sweetland scored a hat trick, and teammates racked four more goals. Lerg fought hard but the Jackals took advantage of a tired Trenton defense. At intermission, Trenton resident and first-time hockey fan Sheila Powell said, “I like [the game] but I think it would be better with more
people. It’s exciting. It’s a very ‘busy’ game…” Period play was rougher as the score became more lopsided. Several fights broke out in the third period. One intense exchange between 5’10” , 180 pound Ryan Hayes and hulking 6’3” Brennan Turner at 220 lbs., underscored the lopsided game. The taller Brennan seemed to be swatting, instead of seriously punching, the smaller Devil. There were so many helmets, sticks and gloves littering the ice after one skirmish, that a Jackal player glided along unnoticed, flicking white helmets and red gloves, Devilsticks one way, Jackals’ the other. Playing hard right down to the last 17 seconds on the clock, the Devils finally sneaked past Elmira and scored Trenton’s second goal of the night. Final score: Elmira 7 to 2. BEHIND THE SCENES Kevin Dean, now coach of the Trenton Devils ice hockey team, studied Business Administration at the University of New Hampshire. He played hockey in college and that launched a professional career that spanned almost a decade. Dean has a love and a talent for hockey. Now his job is to train players and anticipate constant change in the line-up. Practice is ten o’clock on mornings when the team is in town,
but Dean never knows for sure if he has a full team or if one of his men has been “called up,” meaning called to a major NHL team. Heading into the Devils’s matinee game of November 28, Dean was a player short and faced playing one of his forwards as defense. But he takes this in stride. “It’s fun. Guys get called up and it’s kind of rewarding. I make it a point to try to watch them play.” Coach Dean said. Before being sold and renamed the Devils, the Trenton Titans won their league’s championship, the Kelly Cup, and local fans hoped the new franchise will be as successful. About this prospect, Dean hedges saying, “It’s too soon in the season to say anything about the Kelly Cup play…it’s too soon.” Dean goes on to say, “We have to find our own identity as a team. We have a young team, new players, and we have to bring some wins together. The younger kids get in and everything changes.” The present Devil’s hockey franchise is a work in progress. Originally established as a farm team for the Philadelphia Flyers, the Titans had a good fan base and ticket sales because of regional identity with the Flyers. The New Jersey Devils purchased the Titans in 2008 and renamed them the
VOICE reporter Barbara Stoffels interviews Trenton Devils coach Kevin Dean following the Devils loss to the Elmira Jackals 7-2 on November 17, 2010. Trenton Devils. The Lowell Massachusetts Devils team was shifted to Albany, former home of the Albany River Rats, in 2010. They were renamed the Albany Devils and are the next level for promising Trenton players on their way to the majors. The present contract commitment to Trenton hockey is for ten years according to Dan D’Uva, Director of Public Relations and Broadcasting for the Trenton
PHOTO | Susan Johnson
Devils . A survey of 38 Mercer students indicated that the Devils have name recognition. Over 97 percent of those surveyed are indeed familiar with the team, although less than half said they planned to go to a game this season. For those that do purchase a ticket, chances are good they will get a show if the game against the Jackals is any indication.
By Susan Johnson Reporter
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Student athletes are banging their heads on a big problem
Mike Ziegler was playing right guard for the Nottingham High School football team one day in mid-October. He says it was a big game; that much he remembers. As the game went on, that’s when things start to become fuzzy. Ziegler says he took four blows to the head in a matter of an hour and a half. By then, he had no idea where he was, had a bad headache and was vomiting on the sidelines. He realized after the second shot to the head he wasn’t right. So did other people, who were telling him he didn’t look right and that he was “just blocking air” . Ziegler is part of Mercer’s “Jump Start” program where he earns college credits towards his music production major. He is also part of a growing concern about sports concussions which has been the subject of many recent articles pertaining to all levels of sports. According to the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) at www.aan. com, concussions are a common consequence of contact sports which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate occurs three million times in the United Sates every year. Concussions are second only to motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of traumatic brain injury among those aged 15 to 24. The AAN consists of more than 22,500 neurologists and neuroscience professionals that advocate for policies regarding the safe care of athletes playing contact sports. Based on their clinical experience, the AAN released a “Position Statement on Sports Concussions” in October 2010. The major points of the Position Statement recommend that: a physician evaluate, treat and give approval for the athlete to return to play; a certified Athletic Trainer be present at all sporting events; and education efforts be maximized to improve understanding of concussions by all athletes, parents and coaches. Other organizations are following suit. According to www.njsiaa.org , the website of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, they have develShe goes on to say that some parents and coaches try to “live through their children” and push them too hard as athletes. Ryan Zegarski, Assistant to the Athletic Director and Women’s Softball Coach at Mercer says that concussions will always be an issue. “You can’t tell athletes not to go hard. It is something that is part of athletics at every level,” Zegarski says. He said he hopes that more awareness will limit the length of time athletes are out of competition because they can come out of games when they should, take care of the problem, and return to play. Camillone says one tool she uses is the Standardized Assessment of Concussion (SAC), which helps her assess neurological, muscular, orientation, concentration and recall performance. This gives her an athlete’s baseline score which she can later use as a comparison when the athlete suffers a concussion. This score is one criteria which helps determine when the athlete can return to play. She also has a checklist card that she uses on the sidelines for quick determination of possible concussions. Zegarski said he prefers to keep the athlete’s safe return to play in the hands of the Athletic Trainer and the doctor. “ Winning is not the most important thing; it’s great and makes things easier, but the health of the student-athlete is the most important thing,” says Zegarski. Ziegler says the advice he would offer to an incoming freshman athlete would be to “get strong fast, listen to what the coach says, and always stay low,” which is what he wishes he did the day he suffered the concussion. “Be aware of risks in football before you sign up. Be prepared to take risks. I was and I paid the price for it, but I would definitely do it again,” says Ziegler. Camillone says, “My job is to educate and protect kids from themselves and coaches and to give them the best health education,” She notes that the body never forgets and that it is sometimes her job to insist that an athlete leave the game. She said she doesn’t want athletes to look upon it as punishment, just as motivation to care for themselves and to listen to their bodies.
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Concussion = a type of brain injury; short loss of normal brain functioning response to a head injury; a common type of sports injury. - www.nlm.nih.gov/
oped an Official Policy Statement regarding concussion identification, management and return to play guidelines. The NJSIAA also wants every official to take the 20 minute “Concussion Rule” course that the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS) created online. The NFHS recommends that every student, athlete, parent, coach, athletic trainer and physician employed by the school take this course. Lisa Camillone, Licensed Athletic Trainer and Associate Director of Athletics at Mercer, says she agrees that a player’s health and safety should be a collaborative effort between athlete, parent, coach and athletic trainer. However, Camillone does not believe that one course could possibly provide enough training to determine when an athlete should come out of a game due to a suspected concussion. “They need a person with credentials to make that call…an Athletic Trainer, school physician or EMT; Athletic Trainers in New Jersey are licensed” , said Camillone. Ziegler said he didn’t ask for a trainer because, “I she thinks one reason why there is so much emphasis on sports concussions now is because of the NFL and books such as “Head Games” which she believes “blew open” awareness of the subject. She says there is scientific evidence that links professional football players that have reported a history of concussion and cognitive disease. Camillone says she believes that what happens in professional sports often trickles all the way down to recreational levels, which places more emphasis on educating coaches, parents and players to report blows to the head. She is glad things are starting to change. “Athletic Training is not a luxury, it is a necessity. It’s different than any other health profession,” says Camillone. Camillone adds that a lot of people see an Athletic Trainer just sitting on a cart and wonder what they are doing. “I am always observing on a cart and preparing for the “what if?” , says Camillone. She always has an emergency plan ready to go. “Athletic Trainers always knew the significance of concussions in sports,”
concussion
Concussions are second only to motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of traumatic brain injury among those aged 15 to 24.
- American Academy of Neurology
didn’t want to come out of the game.” As for Mike Ziegler, when he was injured the trainer thought his concussion was minor. He went to school for two days but suffered from serious migraines. He then saw his personal physician who diagnosed him with cerebral concussion/brain contusion and told Ziegler, “no working the brain for a week.” A followup MRI with iodine revealed an aneurysm. It is not clear if the aneurysm is related to the concussion. Ziegler said he still suffers from headaches today and he may not be able to play sports in college. Camillone says
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By Daniela Rocha & Sarina Prior Senior Reporters
PHOTO ESSAY | CJ HARKER
Location: Princeton-Hightstown Rd, just east of Old Trenton Rd. East Windsor, NJ. What happened HERE: A few yards past a busy intersection of Princeton-Highstown road sit two crosses, both in memory of Milton Jimenez, 36, a pedestrian who died here on May 16, 2005. The memorial, small and weathered, is still lovingly visited and cared for, with fresh flowers often left there. Jimenez had been walking across the adjacent field there at approximately 3:00 in the morning, and was crossing the road. Jimenez was struck by a car traveling westbound on the road and died at the scene.
Creating roadside memorials
By Daniela Rocha & Sarina Prior Senior Reporters
State laws on roadside memorials vary widely
According to the New Jersey Department of Transportation, there were 583 fatal traffic crashes in the state in 2009. Each of those accidents leaves behind grieving family and friends. Those mourning their loss sometimes create a visible outlet for their private grief and pain by fashioning a roadside memorial at the site of the accident. Some of these are beautiful little shrines to the memory and personality of the deceased. Others are simple and stark, making them all the more poignant reminders of sorrow felt. Some transportation officials consider these memorials to be a traffic hazard, either distracting drivers, or obscuring visibility, or creating a hazard when people pull over to view or maintain the memorial. Dr. Art Jipson, Director of the Criminal Justice Studies Program at the University of Dayton, has been studying state laws and policies governing roadside memorials. According to Jipson’s research, 15 states currently ban roadside memorials. Ohio “views memorials as obstructions and removes them for safety reasons,” as does the state of Washington. Jipson’s research shows 11 states in which the memorials are legal and are regulated, and 12 states in which they are not illegal, but they are removed by DOT crews after a specific length of time. Currently, the state of New Jersey has no legislation regarding where roadside memorials may be placed or how long they may remain. It is up to individual municipalities to create ordinances either banning or allowing roadside memorials in the area of a fatal accident. West Windsor Township, like many others, has not specifically addressed this issue formally. “Basically, right now we don’t have any zoning codes or ordinances dealing with roadside memorials,” said Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh in a recent interview with the VOICE, “We never considered it to be something of serious concern in West Windsor.” “We usually allow anyone to do what they consider appropriate. Until there is a traffic problem, we allow people to do whatever they think is appropriate and rarely do we ever have any complaints from anyone in the neighborhood.” said Hsueh. The phenomenon of roadside memorials in this country originated almost 300 years ago in the Latino communities of the southwest (Arizona, New Mexico), where they are called ‘descansos,’ which means ‘resting place.’ They are now common throughout the country. A study done by Collins and Rhine (2003) found that people who erect roadside memorials do so from a sense of grief and to mark the site as sacred, and not as a warning to others to drive more safely, as some drivers may believe.
Location: Rt. 29 North after Parkside Rd exit; Trenton, NJ. What happened HERE: On a particularly dangerous stretch of Route 29, four stark white crosses stand lined up in a row, planted in the ground against a chain-link fence at the side of the road. A floral and grapevine wreath with a crucifix hanging from the top is fastened above the crosses. The inscriptions painted on the crosses tell a tragic story of lives cut short in the single-car collision. The first three crosses have the date May 17, 2003 on top, the fourth has the date May 18, 2003. Joseph L. Bellardo III, Stephen M. Elliott, and Ryan M. Fesko all died at the scene in the crash. Lenny Pataki survived the crash but died the next day due to his injuries. Under the names are the birthdays of the young men. One had just turned 23 two weeks earlier, while the others would be turning 23 in a few weeks or months. A fifth passenger in the car, Daniel DeFilippo survived but declined to be interviewed for this article. Since work on this article began, these crosses have been removed.
Location: Near the Mercer County P
Windsor, NJ
What happened HERE: Mary Gabri of an accident that is still a mystery four volved; the weather was not hazardous. “The cause of the accident was u anything specific” said Lt. Robert Garfalo At the time of the accident the weather an “emergent fashion” according to polic causing her car to split the pole. Gabriel the accident and the impact sent her flyin setbelt, she would still be alive talking to the police photographer at the crash scen
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Location: Youngs Road; Hamilton, NJ. What happened HERE: Not far from the Mercer campus on
Youngs Rd in Hamilton is a memorial which reflects the personality and hobbies of 25-year old John Gately of Trenton NJ, who died here on October 16, 2009. Gately had been drinking with friends at the nearby Killarney’s Publick House. Around 4pm he left to retrieve his paycheck from Dick Greenfield Dodge Dealership in Lawrenceville. He never made it. Gately struck a utility pole on a curve on Youngs Road. The road was damp from an earlier rain, according to police reports, and even though Gately was wearing a seatbelt, he died at the scene.
*Used with Permission from Dr. ARTHUR JIPSON Director of the Criminal Justice Studies Program, University of DaytoN. Valid as of 5-15-2008.
STATE BY STATE INFORMAtION on Roadside MEMORIAlS*
States where Roadside Memorials are illegal Alabama, New York, Connecticut, Arizona, North Carolina, Washington, California North Dakota, Vermont, Indiana, Ohio, Montana, Iowa, Oklahoma, Michigan States where Roadside Memorials are legal with rules Alaska, Texas, Colorado, Virginia, Florida, West Virginia, Hawaii, Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon*, Kansas
* State maintains memorials for pedestrians or bike riders, no allowance for automobile-based roadside memorials.
PHOTO COURTESY OF WEST WINDSOR POLICE
States where Roadside Memorials are not illegal but are removed by DOT after a time Arkansas , New Hampshire, Delaware, New Mexico*, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, South Carolina, Mississippi**, Tennessee, Missouri, Wisconsin
Park entrance on Old Trenton Rd; West
* New Mexico requires family notification before a memorial is removed. ** Mississippi allows for civil injunctive relief for repeat offenders
iel of East Windsor NJ died on the scene years later. No alcohol or drugs were in-
States with no specific legislation Kentucky, Maine, Louisiana, Massachusetts*, New Jersey
unclear, nothing evident that will point to o of the West Windsor Police Department. was clear, but Gabriel began to brake in ce reports; she struck a PSEG utility pole was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of ng from the car. “Had she been wearing a o us right now.” said Lt. Garfalo, who was ne.
* The state policy of Massachusetts is to not promote or discourage Roadside Memorials in any way.
States considering legislation
Maryland, Nevada. Nebraska, South Carolina*, Illinois**
No Response
Utah
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voice
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Top 5 best Holiday Buys
By Munnah Manneh Reporter Photo Illustration by Jennifer Diaz “Tis the season to be jolly…on a BUDGET! It’s the time of the year when poinsettias become everyone’s flower of choice and homes are adorned in more lights than an airport landing strip. Ornaments and stockings are being brought down from the attic and eggnog recipes are being swapped. Yes, Christmas is near. In these hard economic times, even Santa is being a little frugal this year. Here are five thoughtful, yet budget conscious gift ideas:
1-WAY AIRLINE TRAVEL TICKET – Airlines like X Fare offer deals to students between the ages of 18-22 to fly to select cities in the US. Tickets are as low as $48!!
5.
4. KNITS – Stores like Old Navy and
H&M are fool-proof when shopping for stylish, inexpensive hat, scarf, and glove sets. Good with knitting and crocheting perhaps? Be encouraged to make your gift more personal and make it yourself.
3. JEWELRY – It is said that diamonds
are a girl’s best friend. Moreover, both Macy’s and Tiffany & Co. carry reasonably priced items. Oh, and they can be engraved!
GIFT CARDS – The most hassle-free and convenient option! Plus, they are sold EVERYWHERE!
2.
SCRAPBOOK – Show a loved one how much they mean to you with a collage filled with memories. Simple items can be purchased at your local discount store or Michael’s craft store.
1.
the college
EVENTS CALENDAR December 2010
Sun
12
BRAVO WindEnsemble West Windsor Arts Center 3 pm A Christmas Carol at McCarter Theater runs thru Dec. 26th
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Mon
13
Acoustic Soul at Festivals Lounge Philadelphia 8pm $7 21+
Tues
14
MCCC Chorus Winter Concert FREE Women’s Basketball vs. Union Home 6 pm
Wed
15
Free MCCC Jazz Band
Thurs
16 LAST DAY OF CLASSES 17
Fri
18
Tron: Legacy AMC Movie Theater 7:30 pm
Sat
Men’s Basketall vs. Harford Usher & Trey home 6 pm Songz at Wells Fargo Center 7:30pm $26-125
Ice-Land Public Skating 12:15-2:15 7:30-9:30 LHS Pool The Nutcracker open swim Kelsey Theatre 12-6pm $4
19
99cent Bowling at Colonial Lanes Lawrenceville
20
Bach’s Complete Brandenburg at Princeton University
21
Women’s/ Men’s Basketball vs. Salem 5pm/7pm home El Sueno at Kelsey Theater 11am&7:30om
22
Little Fockers in theaters Faculty Art Show Ends
23
A Christmas Carol @ McCarter Theater 3 & 7pm
24
Christmas Eve
25
Christmas
26
Blue Man Group at Merriam Theater Philadelphia Kwanza Begins
27
Chuckles Resaurant in Lawrenceville Pasta-Fest ayce 4-9pm
28
Ceramics Invitational Exhibit 11am 319 E.States St. Trenton
29
The Roots Gogol Bordello Bouncing Souls Less Than Jake
30
Wu Tang Clan Third Eye Blind Disco Biscuits Phish
31 N e w Ye a r s Eve
Blue Man Group 4 & 7pm Astor Place NY,NY Mary Poppins 214 W 42nd St. NY,NY
Sun
Mon
Tues
Wed
Thurs
Fri
1
Sat
Strawberry Fields: Beatles Tribute at B.B. Kings NYC12pm Kwanza Ends
January 2011
2
Memories of Elvis: A Tribute to the King at B.B. King House of Blues NYC 8pm
3
Winter Session Begins
4
Les Miserables at Philadelphia Academy of Music 7pm Ruby Tuesday Steak & Lobster $14.99
5
Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs. Marquette Golden Eagles New Brunsick 7:30pm Bensi of Hamilton ayce $14.99
6
18+ Kickboxing Classes Jan 6-Mar 3 at West Windsor Tae Kwon Do Kick Boxing Academy
7
Nature Unbound Flora & Fauna in Chinese, Japanese & Korean Art Princeton University Art Museum
8
LHS Pool Open swim 12-6pm $4 Big Bad Voodoo Daddy at Trenton War Memorial 8pm
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10
11
Women’s Basketball vs. Ocean home 5pm Mens Basketball vs. Ocean 7pm home
12
Laser Park Laser Tag 4-10pm 45 Everette Dr. Princeton Junction
13
Women’s Basketball vs. Brookdale home 5pm Mens Basketball vs. Brookdale home 7pm
14
15
Mummer Schanz at McCarter 2 & 7:30pm
16
2U: U2 Tribute Show Sellersville, PA
17
Winter Session Women’s Withdrawl Basketball vs. Deadline Essex 6pm Away
18
19
Spring Semester Begins
20
Potters Ally 11am-7pm
21
Winter Session Ends
22
Men’s Basketball vs. Devry University 2pm home Jayhawks at Theater of the Living Arts
Sports Theater
Art Food
Concerts School
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20% discount on any item for MCCC students and staff!
www.magma-pizza.com
DINING
Princeton Coffee Crawl
Seeking the Ultimate Java Joint
Grover’s Mill Coffee
-West Windsor The Pumpkin Latte & the Hot Red Chai Apple Cider The Hot Chocolate (yuck), the “gourmet” desserts
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By Sarina Prior and Daniela Rocha
I
f you like chai tea, then the new Hot Red Chai Apple Cider is a delicious autumnal alternative. The spice flavors of the chai complement the fruity apple cider well, and it’s served really hot. (In these lawsuit-happy times, lukewarm coffee has become a more common annoyance.)
Open mic night (usually Tuesday nights) was fun and and drew some fairly good local area musicians. While the talent may be uneven throughout the evening, the better acts were a treat to hear. Comedy night (usually one Friday each month) was crowded but in our opinion, stand-up comedy is absolutely the hardest thing in the world to do well. Here, the majority of the audience and comics were middle-aged, and the subject matter didn’t translate well to younger college students.
The pumpkin latte is another festive seasonal flavor that was delicious on a cold, windy evening. It was hot, steamy, and fresh, tasting like they had just picked the pumpkin. Add the spice flavors of cinnamon and nutmeg, it was like having pumpkin pie and coffee all in one. Grover’s Mill Coffee is an independent coffee shop which roasts their own beans and also supplies other coffee shops. It is conveniently located close to the Mercer campus in the West Windsor McCaffrey’s strip mall. Decorated with memorabilia of Orson Welles’ War of the Worlds and antique decor, the effect is quaint, old-fashioned and warm. The tables and chairs are not very comfortable though, not like Starbucks’ plush seating in some of their locations, and the shop could use more seating and less decor on busier nights. They also offer a wide selection of enjoyable teas, both loose and bagged. The one coffee blend that is uniquely theirs is the “Concerned Citizen” coffee. Depending on your tolerance, the Concerned Citizen may leave you shaking from its very high caffeine content. The hot chocolate was a dark brown color, which anticipated a rich, chocolaty flavor, but alas, it tasted watery and not milky. When the whipped cream on top melted into the hot chocolate, it left droplets of oil floating on the surface as if it were not real cream at all, but a fake whipped topping (a la cool whip). The dessert case looks tempting but if you find your will-power wavering, remember this - the fancy “gourmet” desserts are sugary sweet but not all that tasty. They are sourced from a commercial bakery, not freshly baked, and are definitely not worth the carb and sugar splurge.
The Mexican Hot Chocolate is thick and spicy and not really to our taste we prefer the Mocha or the regular Hot Chocolate. The chai tea here is spicy (some might say too spicy but we like it that way) and not too sweet, while the chai tea at Starbucks is not as spicy and is too sweet. The Frappe is a sweet, blended ice and coffee drink with whipped cream on top, and it tastes like a coffee smoothie (and probably has a lot calories). It’s hard to imagine being in the mood for one until next summer. Other popular summer drinks are French soda (milk based) and Italian soda (water based) which you can order flavored with any combination of flavor shots that you desire (strawberry, vanilla and pear, etc). Small World offers a limited variety of baked goods such as muffins and cookies sourced from various bakers. The pumpkin muffin was moist and tasty but are we revealing our nutritional bias when we again say skip the sugar? The hip atmosphere, trendy and modern decor, and friendly servers make this a fun place to go. The parking, in downtown Princeton, however, is never fun, especially for someone who hates to parallel park on a busy street or resents paying for parking. Sometimes Small World is a victim of its own success and just gets too crowded. As problems go, it’s a good one to have, and the recent remodeling done last summer was supposed to improve the traffic flow inside the shop. It may have done that, but there was no available seating at all on several different visits this semester, and especially after the Christmas shopping season began. The remodeling added more seating when the full food menu was eliminated at the Witherspoon Street location, but it is such a popular destination in town that the crowd has expanded to fill this additional space. The food menu is still available at the satellite Nassau Street location.
already comfy in their seats. In that respect, it is more upscale than the other coffee bars. However, the problem is that they are delivering cold lattes!! Because it is the season for pumpkin, and to compare similar drinks, I ordered the pumpkin latte. It was far from steamy and creamy, and almost tasted like the barista warmed up the milk and topped it with cinnamon. Unfortunately, it could be the worst latte I have ever had. The prices here are comparable to Starbucks, as is the general feel and ambience. There is a Dunkin’ Donuts across the street - clearly not in the same league, but the coffee is hot and costs two bucks. There are a variety of desserts offered, but the red velvet cake was lacking in richness and was cold and not fresh. This seems to be a common theme and, in general, we can say that you are better off avoiding the desserts. Open mic night provided live background music as audience members worked on their laptops or caught up with friends. Like all open mic nights, the talent is unpredictable. I walked in to a musician singing Happy Birthday. Looking around for a cake or a birthday celebrant, there wasn’t one - that was just his choice of music! It’s a Grind has a great appearance both outside and inside, with a convenient location, but it is Starbucks mediocre. Now that Starbucks has set a “McDonald’s type standard” for coffee bars, this is another of the same. They do a lot of things right, and so does McDonald’s.
Small World Coffee
- Princeton
The Coffee! The parking, sometimes the crowds
rinceton’s iconic independent coffee shop, they roast the coffee beans themselves in their Rocky Hill roasting facility using a small-batch process. They claim to have the freshest coffee around, brewed within three days of roasting.
For true coffee aficionados, this is the place to go for coffee in Mercer county. While their regular cup of Joe is a little too strong, the espresso based cappuccino and latte drinks are the best. They taste great, they taste fresh, and Small World’s caffeine does the job much better than Starbucks’ . Our favorite? The full fat (not skim) vanilla latte or cap. With skim, the flavor of the espresso is much more assertive. The Mocha is a delicious adult version of Hot Chocolate with hot milk, chocolate, and a shot of espresso (and whipped cream on top).
P
It’s a Grind Coffee
- Plainsboro
Comfortable seating and ambience Cold lattes!
art of a franchise chain headquartered in California, It’s a Grind has a good location next to the new Plainsboro Public Library, in the new walkable “village center.”
Of the three coffee shops, it is the only one that is not independently owned, and it is the one that is most like Starbucks. There are comfortable upholstered chairs surrounding a fireplace as well as tables with seating scattered around. The effect is welcoming and cozy. It’s a Grind offers a variety of coffees and espresso drinks as well as delicatessen fare made in house. Baristas can be seen delivering drinks to guests
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ASK THE VOICE: good answers to tough questions
Help is here! Dear Voice, I left my flash drive behind in one class last week. I lost some homework and stuff, but what I think is worse is that there were some naked photos of my little brother on there. What Dear Voice, should I do? A huge mutant junky squirrel hopped out of -Eek a MCCC trash can and Dear Inappropriate, attacked me on the way to class yesterday. WTF? If your brother is under 18 that’s a felony! How do I defend What is wrong with you? myself? -The Voice -Once Bitten Dear Bitten, We have found that Mercer cafeteria food can repel any creature with at least two of the five senses. Try hurling chicken nuggets. -The Voice Dear Hungry, I lost my brown leather belt in the cafeteria (don’t ask how). Are you still alive? -The Voice.
JUST 4 FUN
Dec. 22 - Jan. 19 You’ve been popular with everyone around you. Being pulled for your attention is tiring, find somewhere to get some quality you time.
horoscopes
Capricorn
Dear Voice, Why do you guys think you know everything? I see you at your exclusive Monday meetings with your sub par pizza. Not cool, guys.
Jan. 20 - Feb. 18 Time to do something on your bucket list! Let everyone see how spontaneous and exciting you can be.
Aquarius
Feb. 19 - Mar. 20 Don’t start slacking in school now, stick with it and you’ll be glad you don’t have to re-take classes!
Pices
Mar. 21 - Apr. 19 Your mood has been a little unpredictable lately, kind of like the weather. Balancing out your daily routines could be a start to fixing this problem.
Aries
Dear Unsigned, We are a newspaper. We know everything. Come join. Dear Voice, -The VOICE I chewed on some brown meat in the cafe ________ buffet for five minutes NOTE: THIS FEATURE IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT before it broke down. PURPOSES ONLY. ANY Was it safe? RESEMBLANCE TO -No Longer Hungry ACTUAL PROBLEMS IS
PURELY COINCIDENTAL.
Taurus
Apr. 20 - May 20 So you’ve been caught watching Harry Potter alone one too many times this month, maybe you should go out and enjoy reality with friends.
Classic Peanuts
May 21 - Jun. 20 This month is like a giant stressball with finals and holidays, but no need to freak out. Try multitasking and study while pushing people out of they way in stores.
Gemini
Jun. 21 - Jul. 22 Being a night owl is starting to make your days upside down. Make a bedtime for yourself so you can finish school with more energy.
Cancer
Jul. 23 - Aug. 22 Yes! Stop traffic and yell “life is good!” People might look at you funny, but that’s just out of jealousy, take advantage of your luck.
Leo
Aug. 23 - Sept. 22 About ready to give up on dating? Try not walking around like you smell something gross and SMILE! Trust us it’s more welcoming.
Virgo
Sept. 23 - Oct. 22 When is the last time you saw your friends in a sober surrounding? Plan a weekend getaway and reminisce about the good old days.
Libra
Oct. 23 - Nov. 21 People around you love you and want to shower you with affection and kindness this month. Although you’re not used to being the center of attention, allow yourself to enjoy it just this once.
Scorpio
Nov. 22 - Dec. 21 Everyone has been helpful to you all year, why not find a way to give back? And no, the give a penny take a penny doesn’t count.
Sagittarius
DilBERT and GET FUZZY
debate: Pot good or bad?
BAN it
Many users won’t. And that is another reason that pot use is insidious - students think that they can handle it, that it won’t “spiral out of control.” The study “Health Risks of Marijuana Use” by Kuhn, et al in 1996 states that “acute adverse effects of marijuana use include anxiety, dysphoria, and panic, especially when higher doses are used.” Another study done by Kuhn in 1998 says, “The short-term effect of marijuana use can also include problems with memory and learning, distorted perception, difficulty in thinking and problem solving, and increased heart rate.” It goes on to say, “because marijuana impairs judgement and complex coordination, its use also increases the likelihood of accidental injury or self-destructive behavior.” A study done by the National Institute on Drug Abuse in 2003 found that “Because marijuana compromises the ability to learn and remember information, someone who is a heavy user of marijuana may experience difficulties in accumulating intellectual, job, or social skills. Students who smoke marijuana get lower grades.”
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valuable as a drug in its diverse effects on the human b o d y . Consider that a person going through chemotherapy can regain their appetite by using marijuana. The weed helps them to keep their strength when they would otherwise lose very large and unhealthy amounts of weight. Cancer survivor Todd McCormick, as he was depicted in the 2007 documentary by Kevin Booth titled “American Drug War: The Last White Hope” ( please see this documentary), depends on medical marijuana for his health. Someone with cancer can also use marijuana in place of a painkiller and get a couple hours of peace and pain relief. Marijuana is organic and natural, as opposed to other drugs such as Percocet or Vicodin that are made by the pharmaceutical companies. These pharmaceuticals are often much more powerful and dangerous than weed, with dozens of different chemicals in them and just as many side effects (including addiction). Some of the side effects can be much worse than what you are curing in the first place (read the fine print on your medicine bottles or listen to an ad on television). Now let’s talk economics. Weed is a cash cow, worth its weight in gold (literally). The state of California pumped over fourteen billion dollars from medical marijuana into their recession stricken economy last year (according to Time Magazine, Nov 16, 2010). Fourteen billion they wouldn’t have had before medicinal weed was legalized, and fourteen billion that other financially crippled states and communities could use. Not to mention the jobs it has created for thousands, from growing and shipping to baking, cooking and cashiering. What about the social components of decriminalizing marijuana? The fact is that decriminalizing weed would stop making criminals out of curious young Americans who happen to get caught smoking
Kelly Smith
Val DaGrain
Marijuana is not the villain that it is often portrayed to be. In fact, the plant has a lot of beneficial uses which will never be exploited because of our paranoia against “weed.” Let’s start with the hemp fibers that are extracted from the cannabis plant. According the article “Hemp: A New Crop with New Uses for North America” by Ernest Small and David Marcus, posted on the website of the horticulture department at Purdue University, hemp is one of the earliest domesticated plants known. It is a low-maintenance, resilient, soft, and durable fiber that is used to make every thing from biodegradable plastics to textiles, clothing, paper, natural oils and fuels. It is used in construction and even has many medical uses. Small and Marcus say, “During the age of sailing ships, Cannabis was considered to provide the very best of canvas,” as well as rope, nets, sail-cloth, and caulking. Hemp is organic, clean and green, and 100% environmentally friendly. Hemp grows strong and grows quickly. Growing hemp requires a lot less water and pesticides than growing cotton, and also yields ten percent more than cotton when planted in the same soil. But not here on American land (of the free?), because it comes from the Cannabis family and its growth and distribution is outlawed in the United States. What about the medical benefits marijuana has to offer? This is a question that many US governors and senators are faced with now. The truth is, marijuana is extremely
a dutch with their friends, like 45% of the Mercer student body admitted to trying at least once (according to a survey that was conducted randomly by the staff of “The Voice”). Imagine if Barack Obama had gotten caught when he smoked, like he admitted to doing in his best-selling book, “I am My Father’s Son.” He wouldn’t be president today, for a myriad of reasons. First, because his student loans would probably have been denied once they saw he had a criminal record (still true today), And second, even if he did make it through school which I doubt (Harvard Law school is pretty expensive), and went on to do all that he has done, John McCain’s campaign manager would just get a copy of that police report and the presidency is theirs (Brown and high? America’s not ready). Once weed is legalized, it can be regulated, taxed (chaching), and controlled. Its sale and distribution can be taken out of the pockets of drug dealers and put into the hands of entrepreneurs, politicians and businesspeople. It can be regulated to make sure it is not available to twelve, thirteen, and fourteen year-olds like it is now. I am aware that marijuana has some harmful medical effects. I also concede that there may be some bad or harm that legalization may cause. As with a lot of things (tobacco, alcohol, junk food) some people get addicted and cannot use things in moderation. But my opinion is that the good outweighs the bad by a landslide. At the very least, let’s not let our irrational fear of weed prevent us from taking advantage of all of its benefits. So it’s only a matter of time before we get it right. Right?
The reason smoking pot is bad for you is not so much weighed on the medical effects, but on the social and coping reasons it is used and, in my opinion, misused. Most of the college students I know, either as friends, classmates, or work acquaintances, have smoked pot at least once, if not quite often, in their lives. In some cases it has taken over their lives.
These are all facts about things that could happen. Most college students reason that these things won’t happen to them and that the scientific facts themselves aren’t even Why then are they smoking pot? concrete. Quintin Square, a second-year Mercer student, says, “Because The latter is a rationalization, weed is awesome. Weed is an excuse to ignore the medical awesome because in college we evidence that we do have. all have a lot of stressful things And the former is a typical and we’re supposed to be trying youthful attitude of invincibility. stuff.” How do students know these Square went on to say, “Weed harmful effects won’t happen and alcohol are the things we to them? They don’t. There is no can try that isn’t hard drugs test to determine whether one and aren’t going to make things could be the person who never spiral out of control. When you sees harmful effects or the user smoke the right kind of weed who begins using other drugs as it makes you feel as if you’re a result of smoking pot. untouchable.” Furthermore, if pot distorts College students often say perception and thinking, how that they “do it to take the can someone who smokes pot edge off” or they “just needed even trust their own judgment to relax.” However, the truth that they don’t see any harmful about college students’ use of effects of it? Our minds are good marijuana is that it is just used at justifying things we want to as an escape mechanism to do and ignoring things we don’t temporarily avoid dealing with want to know. the problems that they face on So students, if you’re looking a daily basis. to relieve some of your stress, Face the facts - no matter how there are other ways rather than much weed you toke or ingest, rolling up a blunt. For example, your problems aren’t going you have the free yoga classes on campus. Not into yoga? I away. suggest doing an activity that Most students argue that they allows for some type of release can use pot and function - kick boxing, swimming, or just normally without problems. hitting the gym up. However, they do not realize the real reasons they are smoking If physical activity isn’t your weed, nor do they understand thing, go get a massage to relax the consequences of putting or find a hot tub or sauna to off dealing with their real treat your body and mind to problems. I’d say at least half of some R and R. users don’t. If classwork is causing your Because the underlying stress, try allotting more time problems and stresses haven’t and effort for your assignments gone away, and because of the and check into getting some detrimental effects on their tutoring. If it’s social or family social and coping abilities, issues, seek out counseling students then begin to use options or other assistance. pot more often and begin The point is, you do not need experimenting with different a mind-altering drug to relax. ways to get the high faster and You need to address whatever stronger. is causing the stress in your I’ve personally seen the life and find another outlet for destruction weed causes in relieving the tension. Smoking people’s lives. However, I do pot does not make your acknowledge that not everyone problems go away for more will experience these escalating than the time of your high. effects or suffer the devastating consequences of addiction.
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Mercer makes it too easy to blow your financial aid
By Samantha Kenyon Reporter
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Viewpoints
as anyone else noticed that every semester Mercer offers new ways for students to spend their financial aid money on campus? Is Mercer trying to accommodate those who do not have the funds to purchase items off-campus, or are they just trying to increase the chances that students will spend their money oncampus, where the college will profit? Financial aid money becomes available to students a few days before the semester begins,so that they can purchase books in the bookstore. If you receive financial aid, all you have to do is present your ID at the checkout counter of the bookstore and you can purchase anything that the bookstore sells. Whatever you do not spend gets mailed to you in a check two months into the semester. When I started at Mercer in the Spring of 2009 the book store sold textbooks, some incredibly expensive sweat clothes with the Mercer logo on them, and candy.
H
As of the Fall 2010 the bookstore now sells laptops, printers, Mp3 players and myriad other items. For a student without cash on hand, the temptation to go on a shopping spree in the bookstore is huge. I can now grab a new $759 laptop, a $100 printer to go with it and a nice $80 Mp3 player and walk out with them right now, even though I don’t have any money. All I have to do is hand the clerk my student ID and $939 will be automatically deducted from my financial aid award, cash that I could have received if I could have just waited two months for my check. Mercer is also offering meal cards now. You can fill the card with money from your financial aid and purchase anything in the cafeteria. Before the meal cards were offered I was not willing to spend the little bit of cash that I had in the cafeteria. I packed a lunch every day. This semester I blew through a $150 meal card less than one month into the semester. If you ask Mercer administrators they will say that they are just trying to help the students, allowing them to purchase
COLLEGE VOICE | FILE PHOTO
“necessary” items that they might not be able to afford on their own. They will emphasize that it is each student’s personal responsibility to save or spend as appropriate, but that Mercer is just providing needed tools. There are students that agree with this view. Jessica Richardson, a first year student majoring in Culinary Arts is a single mother whose only income comes from public assistance. She says, “I barely scrape by every month just buying necessities, I can’t
afford to go out and buy a computer.” This semester Richardson purchased a laptop with her financial aid and says that it really helps having a computer at home. “I used to have to come into school super early to type papers, or go to the library, now I can do my homework at home.” Richardson adds, “The meal cards are great too, I don’t always have money to buy lunch, now I can use my financial aid in the cafeteria, it helps a lot.” Then, of course, there are the students who
are good at being financially restrained. Zadewine Kemah, a third year Mercer student majoring in Communications has not given in to the temptation to blow money before she gets it. Kemah says, “If you’re dumb enough, they will reel you in, you have to be smart enough to decide whether or not you really need all of that unnecessary bullshit they offer, or if you want to hold out for your check.” Kemah resists temptation, Richardson accesses her financial aid
for much needed help, but what about those students who just can’t resist the opportunity to spend, spend, spend? As the date for financial aid refund checks to be mailed out approaches, I wish I had resisted the temptation to spend my financial aid on sweatpants and Mp3 players. I could be receiving an almost $2000 refund check, enough to buy a car. Instead, I will be receiving $700. It’s my fault, but Mercer made it extra easy. Although Mercer does not directly profit from sales in the bookstore, or set the prices, they do benefit. After the recent renovation of the Student Center the bookstore was given more space, charged more rent, and given more room to sell more products emblazoned with the Mercer logo which we wear around essentially advertising Mercer to all our friends and neighbors. In short, although personal responsibility is key, Mercer could do the students a favor and put the breaks on offering any more products to buy on campus with our financial aid.
Charter Schools Are “Last Chapter” for New Jersey Education
By Barbara Stoffels Reporter
The present surge in charter school applications is a foamy churning whirlpool sucking our public schools down the drain. The Trenton Times reports that over fifty charter school applications have been filed recently here in Mercer County. Those that are approved will qualify for public school funding on a student-by-student basis, taking money from recession-hit school budgets while Governor Christie ignores reports from around the country that they do not perform better than public schools. According a 2007 study funded by the Great Lakes Center for Education Research and Practice, over a five year period in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin, charter schools did not outperform traditional public schools. Robert Bifulco and Helen F. Ladd, in their study “The Impacts of Charter Schools on Student Achievement,” indi-
cate that charter school students do not have as high an achievement rate as public school students in the state of North Carolina. Kenneth Figgs, Manager of the Office of Charter Schools at the New Jersey Department of Education, insists New Jersey is different. He did not have figures, but said that the AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) assessments are coming out soon. Past scores were lowest among the disabled and economically disadvantaged students who are likely to be left in public schools. Figgs said that disabled students will be accommodated in charter school entry programs. “Students are chosen by lottery. It is the parent’s choice to pick a school. Public schools will always be there,” Figgs said, “If a student with special needs wins a place, you cannot ask them if they have a disability. You can say ‘Is there anything we need to know?’ and then a school has to accommodate them.” If physical facilities are lacking, Figgs said that a school would then
be required to “have a resource room, or the class would have to come to the first floor.” Of course this might mean more expense for the charter school because of that “special needs” student. Laura Bruno reported in the Daily Record on March 14, 2010, that Morris County chose to redirect $19 million of special education monies from President Obama’s stimulus funding to non-special education uses. Some uses did include set up of programs that would return disabled students from former out-of-district placements back to their home school districts. Brenda Considine wrote to Congressman Rush Holt on behalf of the New Jersey Coalition for Special Education Funding Reform. She points out in her letter of May 19, 2010, that of Christie’s cuts to education, “nearly 30 percent comes from reductions in the State’s commitment to support special education.” Passaic Superintendent of Schools Robert Holster was
quoted in a January 2010 article by writer Patricia Alex of The Record as saying, “Charters can pick and choose. I have to enroll everybody. Inner-city schools need help.” Trenton’s Darren Green, Administrator of the Emily Fisher Charter School of Advanced Studies, brings his experience with New Jersey’s Corrections Department to his school duties, providing stability and discipline to his urban charges. Green said, “Many parents are young themselves. You have to put a lot of history in a student. And they need to be taught basics of civility…” In spite of his best efforts, theranking of the school is only 1 in a scale of 1-10. As if that were not bad enough, the U.S. Department of Education website ed.gov reports definite negative impact from charter schools siphoning off funding. Public school administrators have been forced to lay off workers, downsize offices, close schools and increase class sizes. Since charter schools use public funds but do not have to comply with many regular pub-
lic school regulations, a case can be made that they could be more financially efficient. Each charter school will be run by a business entity and be accountable to a Board of Trustees instead of a regional Board of Education. NJ.com reported on July 20, 2010, that the outgoing head of Princeton’s Charter School, Administrator Broderick Boxley, was paid $158,502 in 2009, which seems pretty high for a financial model that is supposed to be economical. The bulk of real estate taxes support public schools, and New Jersey taxes are among the highest in the nation. Now the Newark Star Ledger reports that New Jersey has already allotted $30 million in low-cost bonds to help charter schools. Federal money adds $17 million for urban Newark and Camden. New Jersey’s legislature recently passed a bill, known as the “Millionaires’ Tax,” intended to help relieve real estate tax burdens, but Governor Christie held to traditional Republican party line and vetoed it.
In the NY Times, August 2010, fellow Republican David Stockman, President Reagan’s famous former Budget Director, was reportedly dismayed at the growing wealth gap between super rich and working families, and stated that current tax cuts are GOP mistakes and should be stopped. Like scrubbing built-up floor wax, New Jersey’s Governor has taken aggressive steps to get down to the bottom of problems in public schools, maybe trying too hard. Christie’s funding cuts have led to massive teacher layoffs and a confrontation with New Jersey’s teachers union this summer. Also, many school boards did not spend the funding they did receive because they were afraid of what the Governor might do next with further budget cuts. There is no question that education is big bucks and big business, but betting tax dollars on charter schools is just flushing money down the drain.... Gurgle.
VOICE
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AS I SEE IT
We’re not 13th grade, damn it!
ashtray.” Though they go on to dispute the statement, it is disappointing that they couldn’t find a less damaging way of wording their FAQ. According to the Pew Research center, over a quarter of all students enrolled in college in 2008 were attending community colleges. New statistics for 2009 and 2010 highlight a substantial uptick in community college enrollment, while also pointing to a lack of growth in enrollment at four-year schools. The increasing numbers of students are choosing community colleges primarily for cost reasons. In response, federal education budgets are allotting more funding for community colleges. On October 5, 2010, President Obama called community college professors the “unsung heroes of American education” at the first White House Summit on Community Colleges. At the Summit, Obama accepted a $35 million donation from the Gates Foundation to be used as grants and donations for community colleges around the country. Many community colleges were created in the 1960’s and 1970’s as schools for vocational training. The blue-collar origins may be a major factor in the academically inferior image of community colleges. But now academically strong students attend simply out of economic necessity. Community college students pay, on average, about $2,400 annually in tuition and fees compared to the $27,000 paid by typical four-year state college students. Mercer students are complicit in promoting the school’s poor image. Working harder in classes to raise academic standards, establishing new clubs and actually participating in them, and forcing the administration to implement activities that would connect students and foster a better sense of community would help start to shift how we as students view Mercer. Without our own attitude adjustment, there will never be any substantial shift in how we’re viewed. Once students are more engaged we can communicate a more sophisticated identity to the administrators (who can be highly patronizing), to the community, to the colleges we are transferring to, and to our future employers. Yes, we’re forced to wear insulting ID tags is if we’re cattle or criminals. Yes, it is pathetic that Mercer posters have spelling mistake on them. Yes, some students come to class with no pencils or paper. The solution is not complacency, however. The solution is for a critical mass of motivated students to go to class, work hard, produce college level work, and transfer. Join a club, get a job, or do some community service. Stop wasting time and adding to stereotypes. Put the weaker students and insulting attitude of the administration out of your mind. The higher powers that run our country like the Obama administration and the Gates Foundation have faith in us. Let’s have a little faith in ourselves. You don’t need to have Mercer spirit, but we owe it to ourselves to work hard and make the most of our time. Economically and statistically, we are part of a financially stable and growing group of students. We work at jobs more hours than any other group of students. We have sports teams, student government, theater groups, clubs, news organizations, and study abroad options. We have opportunities. If community college students took an active role on campus and in their communities, maybe we’d stop getting called high schools with ashtrays. This is college. Start acting like you believe it.
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Editorial Board
Kelly Smith, Editor in Chief Jason Pomerantz, managing Editor Sarina Prior, Copy Editor CJ Harker, Photo Editor
Staff
Tim Hester, Senior Reporter Lisa Olsen, Senior Reporter Daniela Rocha, Senior Reporter Chikasimara Amu-Nnadi, Reporter Anna Bosted, Reporter Valery Dagrain, Reporter Munah Manneh, Reporter Laura Pollack, Reporter Yseult Polfliet, Reporter Miki Reed, Reporter
Layout
Jason Pomerantz, Chief Designer Robert Sacks, Designer Jennifer Diaz, Designer
Alumni Contributors
Sara Gatling, Reporter Emeritus Chris Moore, Designer Emeritus
Faculty Advisers
Holly-Katharine Johnson Michael Dalton, Photo Adviser Alex DeFazio, Assistant Adviser Diane Rizzo, Legal Consultant
he constant belittlement of community colleges, though often based on outdated stereotypes, is partly the result of the mind-set adopted by community college students. Instead of falling victim to the criticisms of past decades, community college students need to get over the stereotypes and recognize the opportunities presented to them. Mercer is the butt of a variety of jokes which typically mock its academic reputation and social life. People call it thirteenth grade, high school part two, or they just equate the low cost with low expectations. On the College Board’s web site, its “Community college: Myth vs Reality” page, raises the question of whether “Community college is just high school with
T
Anna Bosted
When will we wake up to the dangers of distracted driving?
By Susan Johnson Reporter
magine driving along on a sunny day, and suddenly crashing in a head-on collision. Distracted driving strikes again. A mindless conversation (or even a mindful one) can be the cause of your life being forever changed. All of the apologies, regrets or money in the world can’t turn the clock back. When will we wake up and get it? Steve Charles, a MCCC Liberal Arts major in his last semester said, “I text when I drive, but someone who has been driving for less than three years shouldn’t do it…but it’s bad.” Charles isn’t the only one to admit it. According to writer Linda Stamato’s article of September 20 on the website hallnj.org, a survey was conducted last July in New Jersey by Fairleigh Dickinson University. The survey found that of those interviewed, 21 percent admitted to texting while driving this year, up from 15 percent last year. Some people think that using a cell phone hands-free or with a Blue-Tooth device is safe. The hands free feature was highly
I
touted when it first became available, but in many cases it simply contributes to a false sense of security. According to the New Jersey Department of Transportation website, in 2009 there were 1807 crashes in which a driver was using a hand-held cell phone, and 1750 crashes in which a hands-free cell phone was being used. Tyler Seip, a firstyear student in Radio and TV Production, said, “Using a hands free cell phone is no different than talking to someone who’s sitting next to me.” Seip says he believes you should always use speaker-phone and then “put both hands back on the wheel.” About texting while driving, Seip said, “Texting is stupid; you have to be looking where you’re going. You shouldn’t ever text and drive.” Many people agree with Seip, equating handsfree cell phone use to something as passive as listening to the radio. But the radio does not ring, vibrate in your lap, or have call waiting. It does not expect you to talk to
“I believe [texting while driving] is one of the most violated offenses on record.” -Sgt. Matthew Kemp
West Windsor Police Dept.
it. Cell phones have technological features far beyond those of a car radio. Many recent studies equate distracted driving to driving while intoxicated. According to Stamato’s article, research conducted at the University of Utah used simulated freeway driving while conducting a conversation on a handsfree phone. The drivers were then asked to memorize words and solve math problems. The study concluded that the deterioration in performance while talking hands-free on the phone was comparable to the impairment seen in drunk drivers. Although legislation is a start, New Jersey’s penalties for driving while on a cell phone
hardly seem to be a deterrent. According to an nj.com/news article of September 13, 2010, New Jersey lawmakers propose doubling the fines for first and second offenses and imposing a 90-day license suspension for a third offense. In an interview with the VOICE, Sergeant Matthew Kemp, of the Patrol Division at West Windsor Township Police Department, does not think the current fines deter people from using cell phones while driving. “I believe it is one of the most violated offenses on record,” said Kemp. Kemp’s wife and two children were sent to the emergency room after a doctor ran a red light. Kemp said the doctor admitted she was using her cell phone and never saw the red light. Some high profile figures have decided to speak out. Talk show host Oprah Winfrey instituted her “No Phone Zone” campaign earlier this year. According to oprah.com, Winfrey’s hope for the campaign is that “it becomes mandatory that no one uses their phone in the car or texts while driving… that this becomes not just law, but second nature for all of us...”
But even with such high profile help, the problem still exists and shows no signs of slowing down. The question is what can be done about it? Sgt. Kemp believes as I do. Kemp said there needs to be serious advertising campaigns on television and radio, and instruction in high school driver education classes. I also believe the government needs to tighten enforcement as well as pass stricter laws. Cell phone companies need to take a clear and unambiguous stand in the fight against distracted driving and not just think about their profits. Most importantly, people need to change their driving habits. The youtube video attached to Stamato’s article addresses texting while driving and it hits home hard. Although you can watch a crash scene in the movies, this is different. It can make you squirm in your seat. It feels real. Students in driver’s ed classes need to see it. Ignorance isn’t bliss; it’s just avoiding reality and very dire and potentially deadly consequences. How to contact us:
e-mail: jpomerantz211@gmail.com phone: (609) 586-4800 ext. 3594 write to: The College VOICE Mercer County College PO Box B Trenton, NJ 08690
Editorial Policy: The College VOICE is written and edited by students of Mercer County Community College and published every 3 weeks under the advisement of a faculty adviser. The material printed in The College VOICE, be it articles, advertisements or opinion pieces, does not necessarily represent the views of the editors, the faculty, staff, administration or the board of trustees of Mercer County Community College.
Write to The College VOICE! Do you have something to say? The College VOICE accepts letters to the editor. Submissions should be no more than 300 words; longer submissions may be shortened. Submit materials in electronic format, and include your name and status at Mercer (major and year, faculty or staff position or alumnus). All materials submitted become the property of The College VOICE, which reserves the right to reject or edit material based on length, taste or clarity.
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Vikings beat Roadrunners 58-47
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SPORTS
Mecer County Commuinity College Vikings Forward, #5 Freshman David Melton goes in for a lay-up. sulting in pressure to take shots more frequently. Without indicating a specific turning point in the game Levy said, “Our defense got better and made it harder for them to score, so then even if we missed lay ups, they had a hard time scoring and we were just able to gradually get the lead.” The last moments of the game were filled with more fouls and missed shots as players sprinted from basket to basket. Then, with only two minutes left in the game, Viking guard Anthony Obery, #22, made a three point play by driving to the basket, making the layup and then being fouled. Obery made the free throw attempt “and-one,” which brought the score to 52-45. The game surged on and a minute later, Coach Levy dropped to one knee, pounded the sideline with his fists, and shouted to a player who just missed a lay up. Viking forward #24, sophomore Gary Carthan, cited Gloucester’s offense as the biggest challenge his team overcame. “The guards… were way faster than us,” he said after the game. Surrounded by a small group of fans, a smiling Carthan gave praise to fellow teammate David Melton, #5, a freshman who plays forward, saying, “We got one of our starters back, and he came in and stepped up big time.” The Vikings have 26 games left in their season.
PHOTO | Jason pomerantz
By Lisa Olson Senior Reporter
With a final score of 58-47, the Men’s Vikings Basketball team defeated the Gloucester Roadrunners on Mercer’s home court on Thursday, November 17. The win balanced out the Vikings’ season record, which is now 2-2. The score teetered back and forth during the first half; neither team maintained a lead for more than a few minutes. The first half of the game was peppered with many missed lay-ups by the Vikings and several offensive fouls from the Roadrunners. The Vikings relied heavily on perimeter passing, but struggled to get inside the paint and complete shots. On the other hand, the Roadrunners used zone defense to keep the Vikings at bay. By half-time, the Roadrunners had secured a two point advantage over the Vikings, leaving the scoreboard at 26-28. At the beginning of the second half, Mercer seized the lead. Energy on the court heated up as players on both sides ran faster, yelled louder, and took more shots in what turned out to be a cat-and-mouse chase for the win. Vikings Coach Howard Levy noted the beefed up intensity. After the game ended he explained that when one team gains a lead, “the other team starts chasing a little bit,” re-
Mercer’s men’s basketball team on the bench during the November 17 game against the Gloucester Roadrunners. The Vikings won 58-47.
PHOTO | Jason pomerantz
Ladies Hoops defeated by Monroe
By Val DaGrain Reporter
Mercer’s Women’s Basketball team faced off and lost against the Mustangs of Monroe on November 28. The Lady Vikings were just coming off of a 12-point win the night before against Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI). It was their first back-to-back games of the season. The first half started off very one sided as the Lady Mustangs came out with a truckload of energy and opened up the game with a 16-4 run. Monroe began with a 2-2-1 full court press that forced Mercer to turn the ball over eight times in the first half alone. This lead to 14 early points for Monroe off of turnovers.
“We know how to beat [the press],” said Mercer’s longtime head coach Mike Tenaglia, “We just didn’t make the proper adjustments, and kept forcing passes.” The Mercer women fought back, bringing the deficit down to single digits with three minutes left in the first half with solid free-throw shooting (82 percent). But two quick threes by Monroe’s sophomore guard Simone Victor (#13) and their consistent offense put the Mustangs up 46-27 at the half. The second half was a much more tightly contested game, but still the Monroe offense, lead by sophomore guard April Williams (#3) who had a game high 18 points on 6-12 shooting, would prove to be
too much for Mercer’s defense. Monroe continued to run the transition well and get easy fast break baskets. Mercer continued to struggle from the field, shooting 15-52 (29 percent) for the night. When the final whistle sounded, the score was 88-62 for Monroe. “We need a lot of work on fundamentals,” said Coach Tenaglia after the game. But the coach kept a positive attitude when he mentioned how last year they started with a 1-3 record also, but finished 21-9. He pointed out that Monroe plays in our district play-off tree in the post season and, assuming both teams do well in their regions, Tanaglia said he would be looking forward to the rematch.